Team News: Bray (H)

St Patrick's Athletic host Bray Wanderers this Friday as Liam Buckley's side head into what is their opening home SSE Airtricity League fixture in Richmond Park in 2015 (Kick-Off 7.45pm).

After last week's defeat to Shamrock Rovers, the Saints will be looking to register their first win of the league campaign– however visitors Bray Wanderers will similarly be looking to get off the mark after their 1-0 defeat last Saturday to Drogheda United, former Saint Daryl Kavanagh scoring the only goal of the game.

Speaking to stpatsfc.com ahead of the game, Pat's manager Liam Buckley reflected on last week's result against Shamrock Rovers and emphasised that his side were concentrated on pushing on and getting their season up and running in front of the Saints" supporters in Inchicore.

"Last week was disappointing to lose, but the conditions had a huge influence on the game and both sides couldn"t play their game. We"ve moved on though in training this week and are fully focused on getting a result on Friday against Bray," Buckley added.

"They"d a narrow loss last week against Drogheda so we"re expecting Bray to come to Richmond Park and be very competitive. Alan Mathews is a good manager and we never have it easy against Bray so the players will need to deliver and put in a good performance if we"re to get the three points.

That said, we also welcome back some players from suspension so the lads are looking forward to the game and getting back to playing in front of our great home support."

In team news, Buckley confirmed that both skipper Ger O"Brien and centre half Jason McGuinness will miss out with hamstring injuries. However the Saints" boss welcomes both Sean Hoare and Killian Brennan back into the fold after their respective one match bans, while new signing Morgan Langley from the Harrisburg City Islanders in America arrived in Ireland on Thursday and is available for selection.
Elsewhere Saints' keeper Brendan Clarke is in line for his 150th appearance for the club if selected.

For Saints" midfielder Killian Brennan, Friday's game presents his first opportunity to play for the Saints in the 2015 SSE Airtricity League campaign having missed last week's game against former club Shamrock Rovers.

The Drogheda native admits that it was a frustration to have been absent, but revealed it has made him extra keen to play on Friday and help the Saints" get their first win.

"It was a disappointing to lose last week but it was a strange game with the weather being as poor as it was. From a personal point of view, it was frustrating to have to sit it out with a suspension, but it just means I"m really buzzing and ready to go for Friday against Bray," Brennan told stpatsfc.com.

"After losing to Dundalk in the President's Cup and then again last week, we"ll be looking to stop that run on Friday and get a win under our belts. Liam's got options to pick from so we"re all just working hard to get into the starting line-up and push on to hopefully get a win."